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Research Month: October

*Credit to Lunar for the awesome banner

Purpose:

With the change from BW1 to BW2, many once potent threats dropped in usage and new threats rose. Currently many people are arguing that BW2 is growing stale and some players are even going as far as saying that there are only 10-15 "usable" teams in the metagame. The purpose of this thread, and challenge, will be to show that BW2 is full of surprises and effective pokemon. Every month your hosts, me and user Makaveli, will post three Pokemon we consider viable in the current metagame, but underappreciated. This challenge will involve teambuilding and laddering, but don't worry if these things can sometimes be difficult. The secondary purpose of this thread is to help new battlers get into teambuilding by offering advice and suggestions. With that being said, feel free to post your teams in the thread asking for suggestions. Likewise if the challenge is easy to you, make an effort to help newer players with their challenge. We as a community are constantly learning, so respect and a good attitude are required.

The Challenge:

Every month three Pokemon will be listed by the hosts, and at least one of these Pokemon is required to be on your team. These Pokemon will be very viable in the OU metagame, and this will hopefully inspire some more creativity in everyones day to day teambuilding. Achievements in this tourny will be based on how your team does on the ladder. Both the PS and PO ladder will be acceptable, although different requirements will exist for each ladder. Needless to say, when doing this challenge new alts need to be used by participants. People who achieve high rankings on the ladder will be recorded in the hall of fame, and will be given a reward. When posting ladder achievments, please post a screenshot or "/ranking" of your rank, along with the team you used. By posting the team you used you can serve as an example for other users who may be having some trouble with the challenge. We want to encourage discussion, so if you are having trouble, feel free to post asking for advice. Even if you are doing well try to post; saying what works, what doesn't, and what were your experiences using these Pokemon.

Pokemon of the Month: October
Zapdos Spoiler:- possibilities:

Zapdos is a often underrated Pokemon in this metagame. It offers renowned bulk, as well as formidable offense. Zapdos has the ability to serve as a premier special wall, and a check to threatening Water-Type's like Starmie and Politoed, while threatening them with STABed Thunders. Zapdos can also serve a role of VoltTurn chains, with its strong Special Attacks, as well as its access to both U-Turn and Volt Switch. Its formidable bulk and offensive pressure shouldn't be overlooked while teambuilding.

Mienshao Spoiler:- possibilities:

Mienshao has recently dropeed down to UU, with the advent of BW2. It sits at a very potent speed tier, and boasts very high Offensive stats. To top it off, it also has regenerator to heal any Life Orb or hazards damage. Mienshao can work very well on VoltTurn chains for this reason. However its potential doesn't stop there, as it can also run threatening Swords Dance sets, and can even pass it to teammates with Baton Pass.

Snorlax Spoiler:- possibilities:

Snorlax truly shined in the earlier generations of Pokemon. Ever since BW has began, Snorlax has been overlooked and deemed useless. However this isn't true, as snorlax boasts insane Special Defense, but unlike the blobs can threaten many Pokemon with its good coverage and high Attack Stat. Snorlax can serve as a bulky trapper for Psychic-Type's like Lati@s, or as an offensive option for some teams.

*If you have other suggestions for sets that these three Pokemon can run, feel free to post them!

Sign Ups:

Code:

serebii username:
Pokemon(s) you plan to use:
Ladder alt (remember it needs to be an untouched alt):

Chandelure is an interesting choice on sun teams, working as a very effective scarfer. Scarf Chandelure can outspeed threatening Pokemon like Latios and Starmie who otherwise think they can get an easy ko. Chandelure can work outside of sun teams as well, acting as a great spin blocker, as it does very well versus spinners like Forretress. As said by Eaglehawk, Choice Specs Chandelure is also an extremely deadly wallbreaker in the Sun, boasting very powerful Overheats/Fire Blasts.

Virizion Spoiler:- Possibilities:

With the rise of Tornadus-T, many people have forgotten about Virizion, seeing it as a sub-par pokemon. However Virizion is actually very deadly in this metagame, and is able to run many sets including but not limited to Calm Mind, Swords Dance, Work Up, and Support. Virizion has a high base Special Defense as well, and is able to tank many of the boosted Water-Type attacks in the metagame.

Bronzong Spoiler:- Possibilities:

Bronzong is one of the few pokemon who can boast being a counter to Tornadus-T in the rain. His valuable set of resistances paired with his ability, levitate, can make him a very potent wall. He can run viable support sets and has the ability to reliably lay Stealth Rocks. If you are worried about his longevity, Bronzong has the ability to run Resto Chesto sets, or even a RestTalk set. If you plan to run a team with some form of Trick Room, Bronzong can serve as a very reliable Trick Room Setter, or even sweeper.

Don't post only when you reach a ladder ranking worthy of archive. Try to post frequently saying where you are on the ladder, and what you used to get there. Other participants can help with your team, if you post it, and it can help spur discussion on uses for these Pokemon in the meta.

So far, I've had a ton of success through stall, in case anybody needs help for an idea for a team or something.
Possibel suggestions: Virizion could be used in a FWG core, while Bronzong is decent for TR teams. I find Restalk works best for me.

Lots of people are choosing Bronzong or Virizion (both do pretty well vs some of Rain's biggest threats), do you think that is the reason they are being picked more than chandelure? Or is there another reason that both Bronzong and Virizion seem more viable? Likewise is there anything you see detracting from Chandelure's usage in the metagame? Anything helping it?

serebii username: EmeraldGoblin
Pokemon(s) you plan to use: Virizion and Bronzong
Ladder alt (remember it needs to be a new alt): DemianGoblin
Ladder Ranking: n/a (I dont usually play to rank OU, but now i will!)

Lots of people are choosing Bronzong or Virizion (both do pretty well vs some of Rain's biggest threats), do you think that is the reason they are being picked more than chandelure? Or is there another reason that both Bronzong and Virizion seem more viable? Likewise is there anything you see detracting from Chandelure's usage in the metagame? Anything helping it?

DISCUSS

Chandelure just doesn't have the stats or typing the other two do. Fire is a purely offensive type, while Ghost can sort of do both. Unfortunately, it has neither the Speed nor the Hp or Defenses necessary for its role. And there's the fact that Fire is the worst defensive typing in the game.

Chandelure just needs a little more speed by giving it a scarf for example. It demolishes sun teams and functions as a spin blocker by being able to ohko every spinner in the game. Fire Blast ohko's nearly everything after a Flash Fire boost too.

serebii username: Chidori__O
Pokemon(s) you plan to use: All three of them (Chandelure, Virizeon and Bronzong)
Ladder alt (remember it needs to be an untouched alt): ChidoriO[Challenge]

I really love being original considering on PO I made it to 1250 with my original team. But I can't get passed that part so I'm hovering there. I just made this new profile. I'm gonna do it on PO (the challenge). Now I just have to make the team...

serebii username: Chidori__O
Pokemon(s) you plan to use: All three of them (Chandelure, Virizeon and Bronzong)
Ladder alt (remember it needs to be an untouched alt): Chidori_O[Challenge]

I really love being original considering on PO I made it to 1250 with my original team. But I can't get passed that part so I'm hovering there. I just made this new profile. I'm gonna do it on PO (the challenge). Now I just have to make the team...

if you have trouble getting to the hall of fame mark feel free to post your team here, asking for critiques/suggestions. Also if you want help with your team cores you can also post them here. Having discussion like that will help EVERY participant as they make their own teams.